Jack Hudson on his back to school billboard for London Graphic Centre

When it came to designing the second billboard for our ongoing partnership with London Graphic Centre, Jack Hudson seemed the obvious choice. Ever since we came across his work four years ago and swiftly swept him up into our Graduates class of 2010, we’ve watched with awe as Jack’s career has gone from strength to strength. He has a supreme ability to make communicative images still steeped in charm and personality, and so we knew he would rise to the challenge of our broad “back to school brief.”

“It conjures up memories of Bunsen burners, bad hair and Slush Puppies,” Jack tells us. “High school was good fun, music and arts was where I felt most at home and somehow managing to slot in somewhere between the grungey bunch and the 1990s mischievous chav lads.

“I knew that I wanted to create something that holds a similar energy to when you first put pen to paper. I also really liked the idea that all of these students are on different paths, not necessarily knowing where they will end up but just learning through trying. The materials here are providing the students with these paths; all different in colour, shape and texture reflecting their future careers.”

He was also inspired by his days on Art Foundation course and the strange way it threw together so many different kinds of student. “You’d have so many different sub-cultures existing in one room; you’ve got the goth chick, the more mature student, the fashion designer and the skater dude (most likely sub-consciously inspired my big brother’s love of tie dye). I’d like to see myself as the quiffy kid with the art folder walking ambitiously down his pencil line.”

Jack always begins sketching by hand, “trying out different ideas and compositions until I find the right one,” and the rest of his process is an interesting mix of computer work and getting his hands dirty.

How does he feel now that the piece is going up in the London Graphic Centre’s prime central London store, and his work will be displayed billboard size?

“It’s great but also slightly daunting to work on something of this scale and I tried not to think too much about all the creative heads that will pass by and set eyes upon it. I’ve been trying to create work that lies somewhere between being both intricate and bold more recently so hopefully this piece does just that.

“Hopefully first it’ll make visitors to the LGC smile, then think and then make. I purposely chose the direction of the piece to read from left to right so that it mimics the happy customers as they leave the store with their new materials, ready to set off and create work!”

The It’s Nice That x London Graphic Centre Billboard is being installed today. For more information on the project and the materials Jack used, visit the LGC site.